Meet the South African Queen’s Young Leaders on Nelson Mandela International Day

Jul18,2016

Ben Parsons

Nelson Mandela International Day marks the birthday of the anti-apartheid campaigner and President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.

The annual event is a global movement to honour the leader’s life’s work and to act to change the world for the better. It was inspired by a call Nelson Mandela made in 2008, for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices when he said that “it is in your hands now”.

In South Africa two of the Queen’s Young Leaders of 2016 are working hard to ensure that his hopes are fulfilled:

Jessica Dewhurst

In 2013 Jessica co-founded The Social Justice & Advocacy Desk for South Central Africa. She works as the director of the organisation, which offers services including skills courses to help vulnerable young people find employment; an In-Reach Programme which trains, mentors and provides housing for young people; and human rights training.

Lethabo Ashleigh Letube

Lethabo works for Project Playground, a play centre that give pupils a place to go after school. The children take part in activities including dance, football and drama and receive a hot meal each day. Lethabo is also the Chairwoman of a violence and crime intervention initiative called Great Corner Lugna Gatan. The programme aims to give young people who have been using drugs or alcohol a chance to turn their lives around.

Lethabo (l) and Jessica during the Queen’s Young Leaders Residential Week in London

Categories

The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme is a partnership between The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, Comic Relief, The Royal Commonwealth Society and The University of Cambridge's Institute of Continuing Education.

Twitter

Instagram

Our site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site you're agreeing to our use of cookies. Ok